Flood and Water Management Act

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The Flood and Water Management Act was introduced on 8 April 2010 in England and Wales. It was intended to implement Sir Michael Pitt’s recommendations following the widespread flooding of 2007 when more than 55,000 homes and businesses were flooded (see Pitt Review). The flooding was largely caused by surface water run off overloading drainage systems. The Act was also a response to the need to develop better resilience to climate change.

SABs would assess whether surface water drainage proposals met a new National Standard for SuDS and Specified Criteria. The SAB also had a further duty to adopt and maintain approved drainage systems serving more than one property and not forming part of the public (adopted) highway. The requirements of Schedule 3 would be phased in within the requirements limited to Major development for the first 3 years.

However, the introduction of the measures has been delayed, with no regulations or guidance in place. The government consulted again on proposals between 20 December 2011 and 13 March 2012. Whilst efforts to implement have included issue of final draft National Standards for SuDS and supporting guidance in June 2014, the approach to charging for the maintenance of adopted drainage systems remained unresolved.